"We are devastated that the Supreme Court succumbed to political pressure by voting to weaken the sacred institution. They neglected our most precious children who need a mother and a father united in marriage for healthy development," the Rev. William Owens, president of CCAP, said in a statement Wednesday after the rulings that bolstered same-sex marriage, the Atlanta Daily World reported.

The Memphis-based organization has launched a marriage petition on its website and was to hold a news conference with prominent clergy on Wednesday afternoon.

"The African-American community has already been plagued with problems related to children growing up in single-parent households. This ruling will only accelerate the further erosion of our communities and society," Owens said.

Owens said the CAAP "will not give up on marriage as the solid social institution recognized by cultures worldwide. It is time for African-Americans and the Christian community to rise up and renew their efforts to protect marriage and strengthen the families in their communities.

"African-Americans pay a disproportionate price as collateral damage of the aggressive gay agenda, and it will take leaders across the country to resist the cultural shift on marriage," he said.